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Steamed Pork Buns (Baozi) - The Woks of Life
Steamed Pork Buns (Baozi) - The Woks of Life
This baozi recipe makes delicious Chinese steamed pork buns that can
be enjoyed fresh or frozen and reheated for a quick/tasty meal or snack.
Ingredients
Instructions
2. Add in the flour ½ cup at a time and knead for about 15 minutes. Adjust the last ½ cup flour
accordingly. The dough should be soft––not sticky and not too firm. Once the dough is even
and smooth, form it into a ball. Cover it with a damp kitchen towel and let it proof one hour in
a warm place. (If kneading by hand, knead the dough until it’s as smooth as a baby’s butt!)
While it’s proofing, make the filling.
2. Now preheat the wok or a cast iron pan until it starts to smoke lightly. Add in 3 tablespoons
oil, along with the minced ginger and diced onion. Cook over medium heat until the onions
soften. Add in the ground pork and turn up the heat, stirring to break up any large chunks.
Cook until all the pork turns pale and opaque––there is no need to brown or crisp the meat.
3. Add wine, dark soy sauce, sweet bean sauce, ground bean sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, white
pepper, and sesame oil. With the heat on high, stir everything together until well-combined.
Taste the filling and adjust seasoning if needed.
4. Cook for a couple of more minutes to cook off any remaining liquid. Stir in the cornstarch and
water mixture, allowing everything to bubble together for 30 seconds to a minute. Turn off the
heat and let the filling cool uncovered. After the filling has cooled, mix in the chopped
scallions.
2. Take each dough ball, and with a rolling pin, roll it from the edge towards the center, without
actually rolling the center of the dough. The goal is to flatten the dough into a round circle
with a thinner edge and thicker center. The difference in thickness should be about 1:2. Add
some filling to the center.
3. You can start with a smaller amount of filling until you get the hang of the folding/pleating.
The buns are folded with one hand holding the skin and filling, and the other hand pleating the
edges of the dough disk like an accordion. As you fold, the goal is to make it all the way
around the circle, until you’ve sealed it at the top. You’ll be making about 10-15 folds. Lay the
buns on a small piece of parchment paper and put it directly on your steaming rack. Repeat
until all are assembled. Let the buns proof (covered) for another 15 minutes before steaming.
4. If you’d rather not pleat the buns at all, simply pinch the edges of dough around the filling and
pinch to seal tightly. Then simply flip the buns seam side down, cover, and proof for 15
minutes.
To steam:
1. With the buns in the steamer, start with cold water and turn on the heat to medium. Set the
timer to 15 minutes.
2. After 15 minutes, turn off the heat, and keep the lid on. Let the buns “rest” for 5 minutes
before opening the lid. Missing this step will cause the buns to collapse.
Notes
Recipe makes 20 buns. Nutrition info is for 1 bun.
I used a double-leveled bamboo steamer. You can use whatever steaming apparatus you normally
use (refer to our post on how to steam food with a bamboo steamer, metal steamer or even
without special equipment).
Just remember: boiling water should never directly touch the buns during steaming. Also avoid
sticking by brushing oil onto the steaming surface or adding a nonstick surface like napa cabbage
leaves or parchment paper. If using a bamboo steamer, brush the sides of the steamer with oil, as the
buns expand and might stick to the sides. The surface the buns sit on should be porous, not solid
(like a plate). This will trap moisture and make the buns soggy. There should be some aeration going
on. Finally, make sure the lid is tight so you don’t lose any steam.
Nutrition
Calories: 232kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 25mg
| Sodium: 179mg | Potassium: 152mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 18IU | Vitamin C: 1mg |
Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 2mg
Steamed Pork Buns (Baozi) by The Woks of Life. Recipe URL: https://thewoksoflife.com/steamed-pork-buns-baozi/